What to do with No. 9

Milan Michalek is on a tear and frankly, I’m not sure what the Senators should do with him anymore.
For most of the season it was an easy call – July 1 would be the handshake, the official parting of ways. But at that point, I also thought his days as a scoring winger were over.
Now Michalek has four in his last four games and seven in the 13 games since Ales Hemskey was acquired.
Now he’s looking like the Michalek of old.
Maybe Jason Spezza wasn’t the only one who suffered without an offensively gifted winger on that line. Maybe that was part of Michalek’s problem too.
Or maybe Michalek is just thriving with a Czech mate around. Maybe it’s also Hemsky’s off-ice presence, a guy to speak his language, a guy with whom he’s on the same page, a guy who is also staring at the uncertainties of free agency.
The Senators have not closed the book on Michalek. They see him as a great teammate and a quality person. They would probably jump at the chance if they could sign him at a salary of about $2 million, or $2.5 million.
Michalek’s agent will not go for that. He will tell Michalek he can get him $4-5 million a year somewhere else. And he probably can. He has 17 goals and he’s just a couple of years removed from scoring 35. Somebody will bite.
But what does Michalek want? He likes Ottawa. He lives close by (in Montreal) during the offseason.
It’s hard to get a read on him, though. He wasn’t available after the morning skate today, but even if he was he likely wouldn’t have said much about his future.
I do know this: any questions about his knee in the past have been answered. He’s one of only four Senators to play all 76 games this season. Earlier, at least, he was guilty of not driving to the net like he used to. But that could be that he was tentative, worried about re-injuring his knee. Driving to the net is probably how he damaged it in the first place.
People who say he has lost a step, well, I don’t know what they’re talking about. Didn’t Michalek win the fastest skater contest at the skills competition? Yup he did.
Do the Senators have someone to take his spot on the Top Two lines? It depends on a few things.
It depends on if they re-sign Hemsky. It depends on whether Mark Stone or Mike Hoffman will be ready for that role full time. It depends on what Bryan Murray gets in an off-season trade for a defenceman. It depends on whether they have their eye on another veteran winger they can land July 1.
I just know I’d be reluctant to pay Michalek $5 million a year, and I’d be reluctant to let him walk unless I was certain about a Plan B.
So like I said, I’m not sure what the Senators should do about Michalek anymore.
In the end, the agent will probably force the decision out of their hands. That is, unless Michalek puts his foot down and says he wants to stay.

22 comments

A player shows his value over the season and not 13 games. Milan has been good for the Sens since his arrival but there has been a decline. Last night the big left winger was minus 1 and had no shots, no hits, no take aways. I wouldn’t resign Michalek unless he came cheap. They haven’t minded wasting money before: Kovalev 5m, Leclaire, 5m, Cowen 3m, Greening 2m (I think) and of course Philips 2.5m.

The Team certainly doesn’t look like the team of promise that fans and the experts on 1200 have said. The small, cowardly, slow, talentless and iligitimate Habions hammered the Sens again. The DAC said they stopped skating and when asked how he felt afterwards he offered: “I’m numb…”! Oh he and the DAACs are numb baby! The other paper printed what some here have been saying 5 months: “the team continues to make the same defencive miscues, allowing break aways and two on ones and ceding the front of the net”; sound familiar? Who is responsible? All great teams are built from the back out, not the Sens. The defencemen on this team have failed them all year and the Coaching staff have failed them. Maybe the DAACs can swap forwards and defencemen again? Would that work?

In spite of what the Empire Loyalists here have said, the Philips siging was ridiculous (another shining example of one of the many problems that plague this organization). I am one who doesn’t give a damn what a player does in the community (I know who the real heroes are). A command performance (mandatory participation) is window dressing only. I want my team to have good young hockey players that entertain and win games not have beens who should retire! TBR would have been really old on the Stanley Cup Finalists (who Dave says was very old!).

The DAC limited Karly to 22 minutes; I assume he finally saw enough of his casual play and after getting beat often in spite of his blazing speed. The highlight was getting burned by the Daniel Brier who is 13 years his senior. Is it safe to say he didn’t show up for another tough game? Has this ever happened before? He did register 2 shots on net!? He is definitely a Hart candidate (he needs one).

The Shooter had 2 shots and one resulted in goal and he made a nice pass to set up Turris for one! But he lumbering Zzzz had no take aways, 1 hit, didn’t win a single battle, fell down a lot, carried the puck 12 feet only the few times he did carry the puck, didn’t stickhandle around a soul but, he saw 3.5 minutes on specialty teams!? He was -2 and on the ice for 4 goals scored against! Hoffman carried the bisquite often (once 150 feet). He blew by many with is speed, he had the patience (skill) to hold on to the puck until a team mate was open and then fed a great pass. Oh, he had 5 great shots! Second most on the team! Spezza was awful: -3. But he did register 4 shots and won 70% of his draws and was on the ice for a few assists (Philips and Gryba assised on Hab goals).

Look, the Sens have not done well since 2007 and appear to be going backwards. If I was running this team, the likes of Michalek, Philipps, Neil, Greening, Condra, and Anderson would be traded, dumped or released outright. Serious consideration should be given to trading Spezza. This team needs a whole new look and feel to it. Seven years of being mediocre to poor has left this current Sen team with a loser mentality. Hell, as Donnie said last week, perhaps trading Karlsson, if the price is right, has to be in the cards.

What a surprise that the crotchety hypocrite is on here making excuses for Spezza’s -3 performance (it was the goalie and other 4 skaters fault – not his little darling, he won some face offs dontchaknow?!).

Zibanejad gets a goal and an assist while playing with Smith and Neil – good thing Zibby was able to help Smith break out of his slump.

L-O-V-E-D when Karlsson smoked Gallagher and then casually took the much bigger and stronger (and much more fierce and competitive and with a much bigger heart) Galchenyuk on, put him in a headlock and threw him to the ground. I am surprised there is no mention of that play from the Egomaniac Drama Queen? He must have been getting his warm milk ready for bed time when that happended.

Pitiful that the Senators are so fragile and can’t hold on to a lead, a really disgusting display and I feel sorry for fans that had tickets to that game. I hope they don’t pull the same stunt next Saturday when I am there to watch them take on the Leafs.

Stone and Hoffman both looked good and hopefully it isn’t just a mirage.

I think if the Sens can sign Michalek and Hemsky to shorter term deals then both are welcome back. Can’t just have all young players on the team and who else would be brought it? Can’t afford a high priced FA so that means that someone from the farm would have to step in.

Anderson should have been pulled and that is just another in a strange year of odd management by MacLean.

Bobby, I know you love all your little made up names but for those of us without the Booby Handbook – what is DAC, DAAC and then the one that for some reason you referenced me with, TBR? It is hard enough to decipher your terrible writing and grammar without having to guess at your acronyms.

Oh, and just so Pav doesn’t have to be the one to do it…PK was -3 last night and got benched.

Was watching the Blues / Avs game this afternoon as well and damn the kid looks amazing. 60 points so far and 24 goals…so impressed.

He had one play that he didn’t score on about halfway through the 3rd…picked up the puck in his own end and blasted through the neutral zone, split Bouwmeester and Pietrangelo and made a nice move on the goalie from in tight but couldn’t find any space to put it in.

Later he stood up to Backes when he tried to take liberties. Love that guy and think he is the next super star. Will be amazing to see what the next Team Canada looks like in 4 years…

Off to NY – wonder if the Sens can gather their senses and put in a half decent showing tonight?

OD, see my other blog on what to do. All I am trying to say is that we will not improve much if we keep throwing out the same players such as Neil, Philipps, Condra, Greening etc…

The likes of Greening, Condra, etc… have had plenty of opportunity to perform and all I see are interchangeable third/fourth line players. If we have a ton of talent on the farm then lets push them up and see what they can do.
Murray better be careful with Lehner. If he isn’t number one next year, I will predict he walks.
In closing, if significant changes/improvements aren’t made over the summer we will end watching the same old mediocre team who will only win if they get outstanding goalkeeping.

Don, it’s quite simple.
Do the Senators want to aspire to a Stanley Cup or do they want to me a middling, average, bubble playoff time? If it’s the first then Milan needs to go and they should look at what they could get for the fat, slow, excuse-making Ryan! Of course he wants to stay here! He has no pressure from Murray (who is afraid of setting expectations), from the coach (who is numb, we could have told you that several times given his mind-numbing decisions) or from the media, who are basically team chaperones except in very rare cases!

Milan Michalek is done, beating a bunch of slow team players in a skills comp is irrelevant. Can he keep up with fast teams like Chicago, Montreal, St. Louis, and can he keep the pace with teams like Boston or Los Angeles? Probably not. But he’ll take Murray’s money because….because…because…

…because Murray is afraid of change, deathly afraid of it. He will give Milan a 4-5 year deal out of loyalty and Milan will laugh and produce 10-15 goals (none of them important) and set up 20-30 goals (none of them important) then give his hyena-like smile when he quits on the team in the post-season as he always has. Elliotte Friedman is saying that Spezza will be traded (Why? He isn’t the biggest problem) and that the team is concerned about Karlsson’s defence (Why? Murray said he loved the team’s defence) and on it goes.

The biggest problem is Melnyk, of course. He is cheap and he is in love with Murray, read in the papers Murray is like a son to him. If Bryan were my son I’d usher him out of the house and I’d tell him to go make hay in a real hockey makret and bring a Cup. THEN come back here and produce a Cup! It’s been seven years of CRAP, seven years of mediocrity in this town and not a word said! Why the fear?

There needs to be serious change this offseason but Murray is afraid and the players are comfortable. Expect more bubble playoff team next year as the team continues to stagnate. Unless, of course, the media start asking hard questions, but it seems Ian Mendes it the only one who does this in Ottawa!

Don’t look now but Karlsson put in another prickly game, getting on the body and being involved all over the ice…and Zibby with another goal? He and Smith look pretty decent together.

For those interested in such things Zibby now has 16 & 16 for 32 points while playing horrible hockey and Couturier has 10 & 26 for 36 points while playing amazing hockey, 10 more games and still averaging about 5 more minutes per game. He also remains below 50% in the FO circle.

PK is now 18 points behind Karlsson and sports a -3 on a team that is +13 overall in goal differential while Karlsson is -19 on a team that is -35 in goal differential. A swing of 48 goals…

I am waiting to hear how Karlsson isn’t having a good year because he is 1 goal behind the D lead for goals and 2 assists behind the D lead for assists!!

Sadly the game next Saturday is shaping up to be meaningless outside of pride…too bad but no doubt the energy will be good as there will be 65% Leaf fans in attendance. Hopefully Reimer will be fully out of his mind from coaches comments and being labelled the reason the Leafs won’t make the play-offs so the Senators can have a chance to finally beat him.

Really good to see Stone snipe one – was a beauty shot and he got robbed later in the game with a great glove save by Henrik.

Hoffman continues to look good too but would be nice to see him convert his chances and actually score some points…it is almost too bad the top lines are playing so well or else I would say he should get some time up there.

TBR = The Big Rig (again Dave, it’s not all about you; I didn’t give him the nic-name).

Indeed, Suckubban was minus 3 and horrible. But again Dave, you entirely miss the point I have been making all year. While Suckubban has found himself sitting on the bench or press box for bad play, Karly is rewarded with more icetime. There is no double standard for play and conduct in classy orgnanizations.

I think I said that Spezza was awful and referenced his -3. Where might I have made an excuse? He scored his 20th last game (no help at all from Hemsky and Milan) and it was the 8th time in his career (damn you hate this guy…you really are a Sens fan). If some could score goals he would have had 3 more points. There is lots for you and the multitude of other “Sens Fans” to dislike about Spezza. With ever Letter to the Editor or critical article, you dislike him more. The guy you dislike so much is second on the Team in scoring (ahead of Turris, MacArthur, Ryan). He has 11 more assists than Turris who had Mac and Ryan for most of the year. But, predictably, the more I pointed out how truly great his season is, the more it fueled you dislike.

It is fascinating that it is now safe to say “that many within the Organization view the season as a colossal failure” and that “everything will be under review”. I don’t believe it of course. I know Bruce believes it, I just don’t think it will be done in earnest. Who will do the review, the General Manager and it was he and his friends who build this mess”! The Owner who rewarded him for his colossal failure int he last 7 years? A real review would be an idictment of the GM’s performance. As Bruce points out, The Big Show will have missed the post season 3 times in his 13 year career and conspicuosly enough, it was all under Bryan Murray’s watch.

I shouldn’t be surprised when Super Fans like you Dave, come out in full support of what is going on. Afterall, “the GM inheritted an old team”! I wish the Sens still had some of the old timers, even in their advanced years Fisher scored his 20th and Vermette has 24!

I have been saying Karly is lazy, doesn’t show up for difficult games, quits, leads the league in give aways and a leader in Total Goals Against. It’s all coming out now. Graeme Nichols wrote a telling piece in the other paper today that supports what I have been saying for years that Karly is an “offenseman” who (as Don pointed out) doesn’t try or care about defence). It is an easy way to play the game! Indeed, Karlsson will have more points than any other defenceman in the NHL when the season is over, but he won’t have the most goals. He will lead all defencemen in Gva. Only 8 defencemen (maybe less by years end) have worse plus/minus and similarly. Similarly, as I have been pointing out all year, Karly is on the ice for more goals scored against than for, He is 180th out of 194 defencemen. So, how does he help the team win hockey games? It doesn’t of course!

Yes Dave, you were impressed with the way Karly played against the Habions in Friday’s embarrassing 7-4 loss. But he DAC wasn’t. While you celebrated his 2 shots, allowing players to go into his corners unmolested, his many give aways, getting beat often, and total lack of effort, the DAC limited him to 22 minutes. We may see Karly make an effort against the NYI (4th worst team in the league) but I wonder if he will show up agaisnt Toronto or Pittsburgh. He does have a history of disappearing in tough games (that too is ignored).

We don’t have access to crayons here Dave, we count on contributors to make the logical extensions. When Danny thinks “blown up”, I could be way off base here but I suspect he wants some whole sale changes and that includes your boys: Murray, the Strength and Conditioning coach, turned DAAC, turned Director Player development and now AGM and the other brilliant AGM who comprise the “well oiled machine”!

You think the team is full of fantastic prospects and the future is so bright…he doesn’t share your optimism and has said it.

The Team you enjoy watching is now the worst team in the league for goals allowed (I remember saying, way back when, it was a possibility). Karly is the worst offender. The Defence is awful and the Philips signing was another embarrassment. The team has one great line (Turris and company), one third of another (Spezza). They have 1/3 of a great so called “energy line” (Smith is alone and is one goal short of his best scoring year!). Neil gets a lot of ink but he is horrendous. He’s now a dirty hockey player who picks his spots and picks on those who can’t defend themselves. He often ignores the puck to deliver a hit. He is disgusting. The DAAC and DAACs are horredous; if they are let go they it will mean that Murray hired and fired 14 since the ’07 – ’08 season!

When Danny-boy suggests he wants a whole new look and feel, he made the uncritical assumption you might be able to fill in the blanks…you can’t. There needs to be an overhaul and he’s said it. Melnyk should (but wont) remove Murray and his buddies immediately! He needs to hire a competent GM with a winning pedegree who in turn, will hire competent people (not family and friends). With a new GM should come a new culture: no more double standards; no player is bigger than the team; effort is non-negotiable. This team is classless and an embarrassment. It all needs to change! While you and other “true Sens fans” love it all, others haven’t lowered their standards to celebrate lazy play and mediocrity.

Seguin is alone in 3rd place in league scoring but not good enough for team Canada. Go figure.

As for juvenile name calling Davey, indeed my names are juvenile, but at least they are creative. Your name calling, although volumous (you are up to 27), fall short on the creativity/originality scale.

18 year old Nathan is a superstar in the making. Teenager Trouba now has 10 goals and he hits!

Don’t know of anybody who has labeled Reimer as being the reason the Leafs won’t make the playoffs but shoehorn some BS in there Dave if it fits your agenda, you always do.
While the coach saying that a goalies was “just ok” after a crucial game I which he let 2 soft goals in is what passes for a harsh critique that can drive a professional out of his mind then I have to question that players mental toughness. Reimer would be just one of many players on the roster and coaching staff that I would personally question in that department the repeated folding calls into question the leadership of the organization from top to bottom.
Glad to see the “Physical Erik” fantasy is revving up again , but I positively L-O-V-E that the comedy, of the most invective poster who repeatedly accuses others of being “drama queens” and “egomaniacs” whines about being “stalked on the web” in practically the same breath, is totally lost on said poster. Pure farce worthy of the Pythons!

Got to say I was very proud of Brooke Henderson in the LPGA’s first major. She’s only sixdeenand should have been low amateur had it not been for a horrible start a short putt missed on eyedeen. Sandra Post said Brooke “wasn’t a phenom…Lydia Ko is a phenom”. I think Post needs to re-adjust her criteria. LIke anything in this world, there are degrees. Based on everything the kid from Smiths Falls has accomplished in her 16 years, she has been nothing short of phenominal. You would think Post would have been more generous; to me it smacked of jealousy (she had her time in the sun).

Watching Alexis and Michelle fight it out was pure theatre! They both hit the ball a country mile (they use Xtra Stiff shafts, I am looking for something as flexible as a rope). Perhaps the long hitters will start dominating the LPGA. Alexis’ swing is unorthodoxcically beautiful and powerful and she repeat it it; Wie’s swing generates tremendous club head speed and is as good as there is on the planet. There are others on the horizon who are young and hit it long. If these kids can learn the short game, chipping and more importantly, putting, new names will dominate the LPGA! It is an exciting time and should be promoted!

Lastly, I used to look forward to Golf Digest and loved watching The Golf Channel in the early years, but not so much anymore. No one likes looking a a beautiful woman any more than I do, but putting Gretzy on the cover of GD was obviouls and shameful. There are other magazines to buy for that kind of stuff! There are many gorgeous looking girls on the LPGA tour if the publication felt the need. The Editor offered some lame excuse it was a “fitness piece”. Oh it was a piece allright. GD and their close friends with TGC have lost all creativity so they stoop to what they believe will sell, trash. One of
TGC’s beauful looking hosts, graced the cover of GC and had stories written about here! I want to see and read all things about golf. I don’t care to see Gary Player, Camillo Vigegas and others buck naked. Perhaps the magazine is desperate to fill the void now that Caligula is yeserdays news! I don’t care for TGC’s The Big Break that promotes hostility/fighting (their version of survivor or Jersey Shore). Like hockey in Ottawa, there could be so much to write and talk about but it would take courage and creativity. GD and TGC are void of both! I’ve read one good article in 10 years in GD and it was the account of how Fox won the rights to the US Open for the next 12 years. It was an outstanding ariticle that was informative and entertaining.

I wonder when nude pics of Karly and others will show up on the pages of The Hockey News.

Drama queen – you put me in the same sentence as TBR – that is why I asked you about it because I had no idea what you were talking about.

As for making excuses for Spezza, please see your quote: “Spezza was awful: -3. But he did register 4 shots and won 70% of his draws and was on the ice for a few assists (Philips and Gryba assised on Hab goals).” So he was -3 but 2 of them weren’t his fault, right? But every one of Karlsson or Zibby’s minus numbers are EXCLUSIVELY their fault. Hypocrite and double talker.

The reading comprehension is getting worse too Bobby – really how many times do I have to write out that I like Spezza? Find me a quote were I say I don’t like him, find me any reference at all…once again you CAN’T because it has never happened. All I have done is point out stats Bobby so if you feel I don’t like him due to the stats he has accumulated I don’t know what to say. Perhaps it is because his stats are worse than those who you rant against every day? Not sure, only you would know.

When did I say that I support all that is going on? Show me please.

Why don’t you take a break from your maniacal ravings and get into a discussion on the many other points I have brought up? You rant about wanting discussion yet nothing ever happens when a questions is posed to you or anything other than Karlsson, Zibanejad or Spezza is mentioned? Why is that?

And just so I can be clear…NOW that some writers are suggesting Karlsson isn’t good in the D zone you want us lemming to listen to them? I am getting mixed messages here Bobby…I thought if we wanted to have the free thought and clarity that you have we aren’t supposed to follow what the media say? Now that they are being negative about Karlsson we should all jump on board? What did you think of his hit on Gallagher?

What if they say Zibanejad is the future? Should we get all excited about that?

Should be an interesting Worlds with plenty of players from Canadian NHL teams there…they will probably have a whole PP unit of just Oilers for Team Canada.

Who from the Senators will get the call for their respective country?

Spezza? He has the young family and injuries so maybe not
Hemsky/Michalek – both in Olympics so will they want to go?
Turris / Clarkie – depends but I would think they would be on the radar
Zibby / Lehner – with Wings making play-offs there should be openings on Sweden
Anderson – best US goalies are in the play-offs

I put you in the same sentence as TBR? Sorry Davey, did I offend thee?

Spezza was minus 3 Davey-boy, but was he responsible for any of them? Didn’t Gryba and Philips accumulate a few assists? Are you hurt again. Were you impressed by Karly’s play? Yikes Dave, you used to have a wee bit of credibility….a tiny wee bit!

You love Spezza? The guy you call out for giving the puck away?! Dave, Davey…Davey-boy, Karlsson leads the entire league in give aways with 105! You never say a word! Oh yes, Spezza who you disparage for GV has 42 less! FOURTY TWO! Call me crazy (I certainly do) but when you say Spezza doesn’t back check, doesn’t care, is usesless in his own end, only works hard when he is low in the other teams down low working furiously to get the puck so he can give it away with a blind back hand pass…I interpretted it as you NOT LIKING THE CAPTAIN! When I offer all the many reasons I like him and why he is having an outstanding season, you predictably, are hurt, insulted and object.

Davey-boy, you need to look at a situation from many angles. You don’t. Although I often reference statistics, I couple that with what I actually see on the ice to forge an opinion. Your blind alegience to a player and the Organization wont allow you to do that. When the numbers came out in the Citizen the other day idntifying Karly as one of the worst players for being on the ice when goals are scored against, it didn’t surprise me at all, it only validated what I have seen throughout the year. He doesn’t make an effort, doesn’t try and doesn’t care (and, neither do you). When I say Karly spends most of his ice-time with the Turris and Spezza lines, it isn’t opinion, it is fact and it continues with every PP (for which he is on for the full two minutes). So when you couple Karly’s “defiant disregard for defence” (now acknowledged by all) with Michalek’s -24, Greening -15, Zzzz -14, Hemsky’s minus 14 and the rest who have played with Spezza, his minus numbers are scewed and he was screwed! Is Backsrom with the Washington Capitals responsible for his numbers this year. Before this year he was plus 9, plus 8 but this year he is minus 20…what the hell happened? You are incapable of identifying what happened Davey-boy, so I will tell you. Backstrom plays with the Karly-like Ovechkin who is -35! Spezza over his career is plus 58! Karlsson in his career is minus 27. Had he played 681 games like Spezza he would be minus 59!

But Davey-boy, it isn’t just the numbers, it is what I witness. The Coach says the team can’t get out of its own end, with Karly’s 105 give aways, I understand why. He does nothing in his own end but pick up scraps that are called take aways (I have a different definition of a Tka).

When you suggested the team would do well this year, is full of bright young prospects, the future looked bright, you likes what the GM has done, wouldn’t get rid of the coaches. I thought you liked what was going on!

I don’t think you should listen to what reporters say but you should steer away from what the Ottawa Senator Organization says…it’s all propoganda! Afterall, they got you believing Annika was an outstanding leader, Butler, Daisey, Pageau, Silf, Da Costa, Rund’sbad, Cowen, were “outstanding”! If Donny calls out Karly for a missing heart, I think you should have know all about it already? How many times have admitted he didn’t make an effort and then forgave him. Some here think its unacceptable, you don’t! When you can read what Don (and others) have said and look at all the stats (Gva, TGA, 7th worse plus/minus among D, 45% of points with the man advantage and 5 on 5 numbers way down etc.), hear team members call Karly’s his play “casual” (others say some players “need to make the effort and up their compete level) and then see it all on full display over the course of 58 games…..you should put your adulation aside and call it what it is.

What do I think I think of his hit on Galagher? Are you kidding? Karly can play an awul game, the coach will take 8 minutes of playing time away from him and you will celebrate his single hit on a single player? Indeed his hit on 5-8 Galagher was a nice one Davey-boy but what did you think of him allowing so many around him? What did you think of him conceding ever corner to players like Galagher, Desharnais, Gionta, Briere and company? How silly.

I will never like players you celebrate; those who show up once in a while, quit on plays, don’t show up for tough games, who never win a one on one battle, never go into a corner. I don’t like big, soft slow slugs who play on the periphery, have only 16 assists in 67 games but plays center and on the ice in all situations because the club is committed to making him successful. Zzzz has 16 goals but the Organization have been shameless in their effort to make it happen! I can’t celebrate conceit, arrogance and bad behaviour. I love those who make the effort and sacriice. When I was praising courageous little players like Ennis, Gerby, Galagher, Desharnais our little Conacher, you and the Fool were belittling them (you like Concher now?). Go figure.

I don’t have a lot of faith in your Senators Davey-boy. I loved my Senators who were all old (were they 61?). I don’t respect your classless organization that continues to embarrass themselvs from Ownership on down! I am not entertained by the product on the ice. I will celebrate those I think are worthy. You will celebrate who the Organization tells you to.

My Senators led or were among league leaders in every category (too bad they were so old). Your Senators are the worst or among the worst in many categories: standings, losses, GA, goal differential, shots allowed, PIM per game, save percentage, PK and the list goes on. Yet, you are entertained, confident and inspired!???????

Dan doesn’t need you to try and decipher his thoughts – who knows what your maniacal brain would come up with.

I would say look and learn but you have proven many times over that you have no reading comprehension skills so I don’t expect you to understand what a civil, mature conversation would look like.

I already know that to you, “blow it up” means trade everyone except Spezza (for fast, big, tough, skilled Canadians – should be a breeze!!) and then fire everyone in the organization, find a new owner, etc…

To the rest of us though, “blow it up” is quite a broad statement so I asked Dan for clarity and he provided some. Now, since both Dan and I shared ideas we can continue on in what people call a conversation, not that I expect you to understand.

Dan, not sure that Lehner has the ability to walk (I think he will be a RFA for a couple years yet) and really isn’t that sort of why we let Bishop go to begin with? To appease Robin and let him be in the show? I would have said that Lehner could have played another season in the AHL this year as while he was dominant in the championship run a few years ago he was sort of hot and cold in the minors. Again, hindsight…

I would expect Lehner to get more of the workload beginning next season and based on his play Anderson may be moved during the season and we would just bring in a veteran back-up.

Also as I said I expect some pieces to be moved although I do think there is some hope for the back-end…just too many bodies though and have to hope it is Gryba. I like his style but think there is still room to grow for Cowen and Wiercioch.

Forwards will be tough if both Hemsky and Michalek are gone. Would need to get at least one other FA for the top 6 or else we risk doing the same thing at forward as we did on D this year…too many green players.

Bobby,
You wrote: “Neil gets a lot of ink but he is horrendous. He’s now a dirty hockey player who picks his spots and picks on those who can’t defend themselves. He often ignores the puck to deliver a hit. He is disgusting.”

If you really believe that, perhaps you should stick with posting women’s golf.

Physical Erik Karlsson. I laughed out loud at that one. I think this year people, including local media, are finally seeing him for the defensive atrocity that he is. Still, he’s one of the best offensive d-man in the game at least.

I don’t see this time going far under Mr. Murray. 7 years ago he inherited a cup finalist. Look at what has happened since. We are moving sideways. We are not getting better. Anaheim owns our first round pick. Things are not good.

Oh Booby…one simple sentence, “Drama queen – you put me in the same sentence as TBR – that is why I asked you about it because I had no idea what you were talking about.”

And your response is, “I put you in the same sentence as TBR? Sorry Davey, did I offend thee?”

Says it all right there – you can’t even comprehend one simple sentence. It completely baffles you. I am impressed that you didn’t reply with, “Davey you love Winchester and really it is so silly…I hate Karlsson and all our young players….”

Mikey…I love women’s golf! I will continue to post on women’s golf but would you post something…anything……on the Ottawa Senators or is everything just fine with you? I thought you were different than Pav and Davey-boy? No?

Perhaps Mikey, you were too young to remember the way Neil used to play. As an “old man” with fading memory and diminished comprehension, I still do! He played the game hard. He finished every check but went after the puck! We all witnessed something he did a couple of games ago that I despise; he had an opportunity to get a puck but chose to ignore to have the opportunity lay someone out…he missed but damn he realy tried. I thought it was disgusting but that is what he is all about now. He is all that I hated about Ty Dummy! The Big Show as Kevin calls him (and rightly so) is a different player now. He selects who he will dance with (shamelessy so). He picks on many who can’t or wont fight (Lars Eller, Gallagher). His big hits are always the same, he follows someone into a corner and he lays them out. Wow! Pow! Boom! Even Zzzz can do that! And, he’s a yapper…I hate yappers. His pushing, slashing, face washes and scrums after a whistle may impress some, but it doesn’t impress me Mikey. I think he is an embarrassment.

I don’t know if you have noticed, but he takes a lot of silly-bugger penalties that put his team difficult situations and he’s done it all year. Is this leadership? It it responsible? I love hard nosed players who have some class. He used to be one of those kind of players. His time has come and gone! I prefer hard nosed players who can skate (like Rinaldo for Philly or Svboda for St Louis)! Fools who simply run around looking for low hanging fruit are a thing of the past (but thrive and are celebrated here in Ottawa). His line is supposed to be the “energy line”? Collecively they are minus 35! Poor Smitty (-9) is stuck with TBS and the Android who are minus 11 and minus 15 respectively. I would like to know how many goals were scored when TBS was in the box! This is all good to you Mikey? Do I really believe TBS is horrendous…….damn straight I do!

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About the authors

Bruce Garrioch is an award-winning journalist and a must-read in the hockey community. A Day-Oner at the Ottawa Sun, Garrioch is one of the top sports journalists in the country, covering the Senators since their return to the NHL in 1992-93. A 2009 winner of an Ontario Newspaper Award for his coverage of the Dany Heatley saga, Garrioch has a strong ability to break news and brings inside information with his Sunday NHL column, one of the most popular in the country. It is read by GMs, players and coaches who want the inside scoop. Garrioch has covered the 2008 Stanley Cup final for Sun Media, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and 2006 Games in Turin, Italy. Mainly, Garrioch has the pulse of the Ottawa Senators. If people want to know what's happening they turn to him to get the info on contracts, negotiations, signings, trades and, of course, games.

Don Brennan is a Day 1 employee of the Ottawa Sun. He has spent the majority of his 23 years as a sports reporter/columnist, covering the Senators since their return to the NHL in 1992, and prior to that writing about the Rough Riders, 67's and other sports. Brennan also wrote a Page 6 column in the Sun for nine months. A native of North Bay, Brennan moved to attend Centennial College in 1978. He remained in Toronto for a decade, working first as a freelancer, than an editor with the Toronto Sun. Brennan has lived in Ottawa full time ever since.

Don Brennan and Bruce Garrioch are Ottawa's all-star hockey writing duo, and will be regularly contributing to Off The Posts.

Their combined experience covering local, national and international hockey means they have the sources to get the inside information on the Senators and the NHL which might not be available to others.

Check back often for notes, quotes and commentary. They might even disagree with each other once in awhile.